Pilot of GA small aircraft distraction and allowed aircraft to get into unusual attitude.

Attributes
ACN	86833
Time
Date	198804
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdh
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 1600 agl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mco
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 1150 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	86833
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While circling a point of interest on the ground, a passenger in the seat directly behind me was having difficulty with a camera and I turned back to see what the problem was. Within the few seconds that I diverted my attention, my aircraft entered an unusual attitude. Fortunately, I easily recovered from this attitude and the aircraft was never in serious danger. Even though my passengers thought nothing of this mishap, on my part, and I didn't break any air regulations; I began to think what the outcome could have been if I were only a couple hundred feet above the ground and were just a student pilot. I'm sure the out come would have been much different. This is why I am informing NASA of my lack of pilot vigilance, even though it was only for a few seconds. In that short period of time a lot can happen. I have made a personal promise to myself that I shall never again divert myself from the main task at hand of flying the airplane. Also I now stress to my students that even if they think they have everything in hand, they should expect the unexpected - be on top of the airplane you fly it, don't let it fly you. I hope that my confession can help you in identifying possible safety hazards, and make flying safer for everyone.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF GA SMA DISTR AND ALLOWED ACFT TO GET INTO UNUSUAL ATTITUDE.

Narrative: WHILE CIRCLING A POINT OF INTEREST ON THE GND, A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND ME WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH A CAMERA AND I TURNED BACK TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. WITHIN THE FEW SECONDS THAT I DIVERTED MY ATTN, MY ACFT ENTERED AN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE. FORTUNATELY, I EASILY RECOVERED FROM THIS ATTITUDE AND THE ACFT WAS NEVER IN SERIOUS DANGER. EVEN THOUGH MY PASSENGERS THOUGHT NOTHING OF THIS MISHAP, ON MY PART, AND I DIDN'T BREAK ANY AIR REGULATIONS; I BEGAN TO THINK WHAT THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN IF I WERE ONLY A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET ABOVE THE GND AND WERE JUST A STUDENT PLT. I'M SURE THE OUT COME WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT. THIS IS WHY I AM INFORMING NASA OF MY LACK OF PLT VIGILANCE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS. IN THAT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME A LOT CAN HAPPEN. I HAVE MADE A PERSONAL PROMISE TO MYSELF THAT I SHALL NEVER AGAIN DIVERT MYSELF FROM THE MAIN TASK AT HAND OF FLYING THE AIRPLANE. ALSO I NOW STRESS TO MY STUDENTS THAT EVEN IF THEY THINK THEY HAVE EVERYTHING IN HAND, THEY SHOULD EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED - BE ON TOP OF THE AIRPLANE YOU FLY IT, DON'T LET IT FLY YOU. I HOPE THAT MY CONFESSION CAN HELP YOU IN IDENTIFYING POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARDS, AND MAKE FLYING SAFER FOR EVERYONE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.